Hi everyone. I'm 26 and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in September 2012. I had been off work for 4 months with diagnosed "depression". It wasn't until I went to a different GP and told her about fatigue, weight gain, skin problems, that she recommended a thyroid test. It turned out the depression was caused by hypothyroidism. Every other GP in my practice had put all this down to an unhealthy lifestyle because I was too depressed to care about keeping myself healthy.
I was put on 50mg of levothyroxine and was told "not to beat myself up" about the weight gain but not expect to be able to lose weight until some time after Christmas when the medication started to work. My sister in law was a medical student and was very excited for me and told me the weight would fall off on the new medication. I have never been overweight in my life. I always had a good figure and was able to enjoy nice clothes. If I ever put on a lb or two I could pull it back by watching what I ate for a week or two and it would fall off again. Things I used to do to lose weight a few years ago no longer work (obviously). I don't need a lecture about healthy eating and exercise from a doctor, I know the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle having lead one up until I was 24! After my diagnosis I hired a personal trainer at my gym and kept a food diary. After 6 weeks I had put on 2lbs! My PT was stunned! This was supposed to be a tailor made, guaranteed weight loss training regime. He said I must have been cheating and not recording it in my food diary. Yes, maybe I had the odd glass of wine now and then that I omitted but nothing in excess.
The thyroxine has not worked. If anything it made my symptoms worse. Even worse fatigue, thinning hair, flaky scalp and skin, weight gain (again!). I started to worry that I didn't have an underactive thyroid at all but my blood tests keep coming back saying I'm on the right dosage. So I'm at a total loss!
More recently I've had AWFUL, unbearable PMS and heavy, irregular periods. I don't know if this is related, but I'm inclined to think it is. I've also had terrible numbing sensation and severe pins and needles in my hands at various points throughout the day. Anyone else had this?
At this point I have completely stopped taking thyroxine. I know this is bad, but I have got so frustrated with the meds that I could take it no longer. I have a family member who also has an underactive thyroid and is now very obese. I am terrified I will end up like this if things keep on the way they are. My friends are all lovely and slim and can wear whatever they want. They talk about diets and exercise classes that they are doing but I have become so disillusioned I just tune it out. They all forget that I have this problem where it is virtually impossible for me to lose weight, and I'm pretty sure they just think I'm fat and lazy. I would live in the gym if I thought it would work, even slightly. I feel embarrassed when I run into people I haven't seen in years, I know they just think I have let myself go. I feel like walking around wearing a sign around my neck saying I'm fat now because of my thyroid!
Does anyone have any advice about combating symptoms? I've made an appointment with a GP in my practice who has been very good to me in the past and actually listens to what I'm saying. I feel like it's me against the blood test results. I can talk about symptoms and useless medications until I'm blue in the face but if my TSH levels reflect that I'm on the right meds, what can I do?
Any and all advice is more than welcome. I am the only person in my immediate family with this problem and I'm sure they all think I'm making excuses for my weight gain, despite knowing about my thyroid issues. No one fully understands so I feel like there is no one to talk to about this.
Thanks everyone!